2005 Volume 39 Issue 2 Pages 129-132
The Ets-related Elk-1 protein can bind to purine-rich DNA target sites in sequence specific fashion and, in addition, can form a ternary complex with the c-fos serum response element (SRE) and the serum response factor (SRF). We used immunohistochemical methods and Northern blotting to examine changes in Elk-1 expression in the tissue during carcinogenic transformation in a 4-nitroquinohne 1-oxide (4-NQO)-induced carcinoma model. In the normal epithelium, Elk-1 was observed in the basal cell layer. In dysplastic epithelium, it was observed in the basal and spinous cell layers. Elk-1 proteins were widely observed in all cell layers from 16 to 20 weeks of treatment. In well-differentiated carcinoma it was generally observed at the margins of the tumor nests. Elk-1 mRNA was weak in the dysplastic epithelium, and was not detected in normal epithelium. It was moderately expressed in SCC. These data suggested that the Elk-1 gene product plays a role in oral carcinogenesis. (J Osaka Dent Univ 2005; 39: 129-132)
